Did you know that stroke, or what is more accurately
called a vascular accident, is the third leading cause
of death in people? Since stroke is so common, it
seems natural that this condition could affect our four-legged
friends. Strokes do occur in

dogs and are often
associated with an underlying condition such as Cushing's
disease, heartworm disease, or chronic kidney failure.

Fundamentally, a stroke
results when a portion of the
brain is deprived of blood and
oxygen. The most widely known
cause is an embolism, or a bloodclot,
that gets caught somewhere
in the brain and "dams up" a
blood vessel. The result is an
area of the brain that is starved of
blood and begins to die. Strokes
can also occur as a result of:
a small area of bleeding in the
brain, a tumor, a spasm of a blood
vessel, or an area of inflammation
in the brain that interferes with
blood flow. The end result is
the same; a dramatic decrease
in blood flow to brain tissue
downstream from the blockage.

The symptoms and severity
of a stroke are dependent
on where in the brain the
vascular accident occurs.
If the blockage occurs in the
front portion of the brain,
called the cerebral cortex, the
symptoms can vary from subtle
to dramatic. If the blockage
occurs in the brain stem, the
portion of the brain closest to
the spinal cord, the symptoms
are usually more dramatic; limb
weakness, postural defects, and a
noticeable head tilt may be seen.

Treatment of strokes in
dogs is largely symptomatic
and involves: maximizing
the oxygenation of the brain,
treating any seizures that may
be present with appropriate
medications, and controlling
any increase in blood pressure.
In severe cases a canine
stroke victim may need a
respiratory ventilator, and
a feeding tube may need
to be installed. Extended
hospitalization may be needed.
Prognosis depends on where
the blockage occurs and the
dog's response to care over
the first few days of treatment.